The piglet squealed in the sack as Harald threw it to the ground. It landed on the unmarked grave of his former rival.
The familiar rustle approached. The huge snake slithered across the ground towards him.
‘This is the last I have,’ Harald said, pointing to the piglet.
The snake reared up and looked Harald directly in the eyes. ‘Then you sshall have to find more from ssomewhere else to honour our bargain,’ he hissed.
‘Must I forever be in your debt?’
‘You knew the conssequencess when we struck our deal.’
‘What if I cannot find anything to sacrifice to you?’
‘Then I will vissit your family and take what I wissh.’
The snake took the sack in it’s jaw and dragged it away.
Harald trudged back through the forest. He came to the clearing and looked at his farmhouse. The children were in bed. The fire in the downstairs room silhouetted Karina in the window.
Happiness came with a heavy price, murder with a heavy burden. This was the price he paid to be with the woman he loved.

Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story in around 150 words, based on the weekly photo prompt. Thanks as always to the challenge host Priceless Joy. For more information visit HERE.
To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
49 responses to “DEAL WITH THE DEVIL”
Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
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👺 The devil’s will all get it in the end…. We hope. Great story 😀
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Thanks Victoria 🙂
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Y w 🙂
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“Happiness came with a heavy price, murder with a heavy burden”- such a powerful line.
Brilliant story, Iain.
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Thank you, glad you like it.
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Loved this story! Even the hiss of the snake written into the words. He is doomed to be at the snake’s pleasure!
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I don’t see it ending well! Thanks PJ
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I don’t either. Poor guy is doomed.
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Great write on a classic take.
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Thank you
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Imagine her horror if she ever learned the truth.
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Just one of the many bad endings this story could have. Thanks James.
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He should have stayed single. I felt sorry for the piglets.
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Really powerful short piece – love the image of the man forever bringing the snake sacrifices on his rivals grave.
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Thank you, very kind 🙂
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I absolutely love your take on the prompt! You’ve left just the right amount of mystery in the story, without leaving it inconclusive; that’s not an easy thing to do in so few words. I loved it, thanks for sharing 🙂
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Very kind words, thank you 🙂
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Perhaps the snake will get a poisoned pig?
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If only it were that simple 😉
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Great morality tale, showing how he’s trapped in the consequences of his evil misdeeds, and risks losing what he most values because of it. And his poor wife, caught up in it unawares! She deserved better, and those poor little piglets too.
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Thanks Joy, good to know I managed to convey what I intended to. Yeah, lot of love out there for the poor piglets! 🙂
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What will Harald find next? Do we assume he murdered his rival for his wife’s hand? Indeed, that is a burden to carry without a troublesome snake to remind you. Well told.
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Thank you Sarah Ann. It’s save to assume whatever happens next won’t be good news for Harald I think.
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Oh…The Devil..fulfilling human desires for a ‘small price’. Good job..
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Thank you 🙂
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Everything seems cheaper when the deal is first made. Nicely done.
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Thanks Mark
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This was good. Now, a pig. What next? Harald better find a way to kill the snake, asap.
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Thanks, I think Harald is going to find there is no easy way out of this!
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Powerful story Iain very well written.
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Thanks Michael
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Excellent writing, Lian. I particularly liked the ambiguity at the end. Leaves us
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Thanks Neel
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Nice little tale, Iain. Be careful what you ssssow. Slippery characters those snakes.
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🙂 Indeed. Thanks David.
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Nice little fable. I suspect he will never get out of this deal.
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Oh no, he’s done for!
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Intense story. A very high price indeed. But to protect those he loved, what choice does he have. Perhaps he could kill this snake. Then again, this snake reminds of lord Voldermort on snake form a cross between him and the devil in Eden as a snake. Both frightening adversaries to have!
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I think killing the snake might not be enough, it would just reappear in another form. He has no way out I’m afraid. Thanks Mandi
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Holy water? Crosses? Incantations from priests?
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You’re very welcome 🙂
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[…] DEAL WITH THE DEVIL […]
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The extra s in some of the words conveyed the pleasure of the snake in teasing the man. He seems to be stuck between the devil and deep sea(er emotions) . A perfect piece of story-telling.
http://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2017/07/the-modern-eve.html
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Thank you so much.
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Great story. There is a contemporary, yet ancient, feel to this tale.
The Lesson
Annie at ~McGuffy’s Reader~
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Thank you
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Wow! You weave quite a story. It never pays to bargain with the wily Devil.
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Thank you!
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